The British took a stance that the migrants from three recently arriving ships (the Pacific, the Milos and the Atlantic) would be deported to Mauritius until after World War II. Approximately 1800 people were placed on the Patria, destined for Mauritius.

Unfortunately, this plan ended in disaster. The ship suffered much more damage than expected -- and the 12,000-ton liner sunk in just 15 minutes, taking 250 lives with it (approximately 200 Jews and 50 Britishsoldiers).